Alcaraz’s Spain and Sinner’s Italy could meet in Davis Cup final
Bologna (Italy), Sep 17: US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain could face Italy’s Jannik Sinner in another title decider after their countries were placed in opposite halves of the draw for the Davis Cup Final 8. Spain will play the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals before potentially facing Germany or Argentina, while defending champion Italy was drawn Wednesday against Austria. France plays Belgium for the other semifinal spot. Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 earlier this month for a second US Open championship, sixth major trophy overall and a return to No. 1 in the rankings. The Davis Cup Final 8 takes place in Bologna, Italy from November 18-23. (PTI)
Sabalenka pulls out of China Open due to minor injury
Beijing, Sep 17: World No. 1 women’s tennis player Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the China Open due to a minor injury, tournament organisers said. The Belarusian, who broke through with her first major title of the year in the final Grand Slam, reached the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 event in Beijing last year. Sabalenka reached the women’s singles finals at the Australian Open, French Open and U.S. Open this season. The main draw of the 2025 China Open is scheduled to run from September 24 to October 5. American Coco Gauff is the defending champion at the China Open. (IANS)
Messi sends signed World Cup jersey for PM Modi’s 75th birthday
New Delhi, Sep 17: Bracing up for his much-anticipated tour of India, Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has sent his signed 2022 World Cup victorious jersey to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 75th birthday. Promoter Satadru Dutta, who is bringing Messi to India, said on Wednesday that the football icon’s World Cup jersey will be delivered to the PM in two to three days. Dutta said he is also trying to a arrange a meeting with the PM during Messi’s tour of India, which will comprise stopovers at Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi from December 13. The football-mad city of Kolkata will be the first stop in Messi’s whirlwind trip named ‘GOAT Tour of India 2025’, followed by Mumbai and New Delhi. The visit is scheduled to conclude after a meeting with the prime minister at his residence on December 15. (PTI)
Paralympic medallist Sema aims to surpass 15m mark at Para C’ships
New Delhi, Sep 17: Indian para athlete Hokato Hotozhe Sema is set to make a powerful return on home soil at the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, aiming to surpass his personal best of 14.88 metres in men’s shot put F57. With a decorated career that already includes a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games, the para shot putter is determined to raise the bar once again. His relentless persistence culminated in a 14.65 metre throw at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, securing India a bronze medal, and he went on to register a personal best of 14.88 metres at the Indian Open in Bengaluru, further boosting his reputation as one of the nation’s most inspiring para athletes. (IANS)
McDonald confident of Cummins’ participation in the Ashes
New Delhi, Sep 17: Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said he remains confident of skipper Pat Cummins playing a significant role in the upcoming Ashes series, despite currently being sidelined with a lumbar bone stress issue that flared up during the Test tour of the West Indies. Cummins, 32, is currently undergoing a period of rest and rehabilitation, but has indicated that he expects to resume bowling well ahead of the Ashes. With over two months remaining before the first Ashes Test, McDonald believes there is ample time for Cummins to recover. (IANS)